Automobile heater



,1943.- H. J. DE N. M COLLUM 2,332,094 H AUTOMOBILE HEATER Filed Feb. 17, 1940 PatentedOct. 19,1943.

UNITED STATES v PATENT OFFICE 2,332,094 au'romonnn nna rna Henry J. ne N. Mocollum, Chicago, 111, Application February 17, 1940', Serial No. 319,558

My invention relates generally to automobile heaters, and more particularly to improvement in heaters of the internal combustion type whereby the flame i maintained, or the flame reignited automatically, following short interruptions in the flow of the combustible mixture to the combustion chamber.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 61,213, filed January 28, 1936, now Patent No. 2,191,173.

It is an object of m invention to provide an improved automobile heater of the internal combustion type having an improved means for reigniting the combustible mixture following its extinguishment due to irregularities in the intake manifold vacuum.

A further object is to provide a simple and eflfective heater for the passenger compartment of an automobile, which may be economically manufactured and which will bereliable in operation.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic view, generally in central vertical section, of the improved heater and its associated parts.

Referring to the drawing, the heater com- Q prises a radiator consisting of a cup l having heat radiating fins l2 secured thereto, the radiator being enclosed in a suitable casing 14 and rovided with the usual fan l6 driven by an electric motor l1.

The combustion chamber is formed by a pipe 18 which is threaded in a closure 20 secured in the end of the cylindrical cup Ill. The pipe l8 extends almost to the end of the cup 10 to evenly heat conducting material.

The carburetor may be of a simple form havin a nozzle 34 controlled by a needle valve 36 and a Venturi'tube 38 to increase the amount of suction at the jet. Fuel is supplied to the jet 34 through a tube 40 connected to a fuel supply reservoir42, which may be the float bowl of the ation and the valve 48 opened with consequent automobile engine carburetor or a connection to the outlet side of a fuel pump.

The products of combustion may be drawn from the chamber within the cup III by a tube 44 connected to the intake manifold 46 of the automobile engine. provided, this valve being preferably operated in conjunction with the switch 23. A restriction 50 is provided in the tube 44, in a measure to control the degree of suction transmitted to the heater.

In operation, the combustible mixture from the carburetor 34, 38, will be pre-heated by the steel wool 32 and ignited by the spark plug 22. Because of the relatively low energy consumption of the spark plug, it may be supplied with high tension current intermittently through the period that the heater is operating, or, if desired, a thermostatic switch 52, which is mounted upon or near the combustion chamber I8, may be provided in the primary circuit of the spark coil, or so as to cut off the supply of current to the spark coil whenever the combustion chamber is at the temperature normally maintained during proper operation of the heater.

The heater may be secured to the dashboard 54 of the vehicle in which it is mounted by means of a flanged plate 56 through which the pipe l8 and tube 44 extend, the pipe and tube being either threaded in the flanges of the plate 53 or being otherwise suitably secured therein, as by welding. The casing l4 of the heater may be sup orted either solely by the pipe I8 and tube 44, or may in addition, be secured to the dashboard 54 by bolts 58.

\ Assuming that the automobile engine is in operclosure of the switch 29, the spark coil will be energized andthe plug 22 commence sparking. Likewise, the intake manifold suction will be applied to the interior of the cup i0 and hence will cause a partial vacuum at the throat of the venturi 38, causing air to be drawn past the nozzle or jet 34 and sucking liquid fuel from the reservoir 42. This mixture of fuel and air is drawn through the tube 30 containing the steel wool, and the gasoline is thus broken into small particles and partially vaporized so as to be more readily ignitable by the spark plug 22.

After the heater has been in operation for some time, the pipe 18 will become veryhot, since combustion will take place throughout substantially the complete length of the pipe I 8. Because of this fact, the walls of the pipe l8 will serve as a means to re-ignite the mixture, should the .A manually controlled valve 48 is flame become extinguished due to a short interruption in the intake manifold vacuum.

When the heater has attained normal operation, the thermostatic switch 52 will open, thus disconnecting the primary winding of the spark coil 28 from its source of current. an additional switch 28 may be provided in the secondary circuit and arranged to be opened and closed simultaneously with switch 29.

Due to the provision of the tube 32 filled with steel wool, the incoming mixture of gasoline and air is thoroughly atomized and partially vaporized and the fuel mixture thus suitably conditioned for ignition. The steel wool also prevents the name from flashing back from the combustion chamber in the pipe [8 to the carbureting device, including the venturi and jet 34. Since the conduit 44 is smaller than the pipe I8, the fiow through the latter will be much slower than that through the tube 44, and the products of combustion will circulate about in the cup In for a length of time sufficient to permit the transfer of a large proportion of their heat to the cup l and fins 22. Suitable means may be provided to control the supply of current to the fan l'l so that the latter preferably does not commence operating until after the radiator has been heated somewhat.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the fundamental principles of the invention. I therefore desire, by the following claims, to include within the scope of my invention all such substitutions and variations whereby substantially the results of my invention may be obtained by the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

If desired,

Iclaim: 1. In an automobile heater of the class described, the combination of a carbureting device,

steel wool, a heat radiator having an enclosed space receiving said conduit means, and means for creating a partial vacuum in said enclosed space for withdrawing products of combustion therefrom and for drawing a mixture of fuel and air through said conduit means.

2, In a heater of the class described, the combination of a hollow radiator, conduit means extending into said radiator, means for supplying a combustible mixture of fuel and air to said conduit means, an igniter in said conduit means, heat conducting means in said conduit means located between said igniter and said supply means, said heat conducting means having interstices through which said mixture of fuel and air must pass, said conduit means constituting a reigniter and being of heat conducting material whereby heat resulting from the combustion of-said mixture is transferred to said heat conducting means and the latter tends to vaporize fuel passing therethrough, and means for circulating air past said radiator.

HENRY J. DE N. MCCOLLUM. 

